RE: ignorance or forgetfulness

[Sandra Chamberlain]

Gilberto: <>Maybe it's just me, but from my perspective, 
humanity's biggest problem isn't ignorance as much as 
forgetfulness. As human beings, to a large degree I think we 
know what we ought to be doing. We know we shouldn't steal and 
murder. We know we shouldn't exploit and take advantage of 
other people. We know we should try to get along better with 
our fellow man. We know we should be more generous and fight 
less. We know we shouldn't lie. What we need is to figure out 
how to do the things we already know we are supposed to be 
doing. And I'm not persuaded that we need a new revelation in 
order to accomplish that.<>

"The contingent world is the source of imperfections: God is 
the origin of perfections. The imperfections of the contingent 
world are in themselves a proof of the perfections of God.

For example, when you look at man, you see that he is weak. 
This very weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of 
the Eternal Almighty One, because, if there were no power, 
weakness could not be imagined. Then the weakness of the 
creature is a proof of the power of God; for if there were no 
power, there could be no weakness; so from this weakness it 
becomes evident that there is power in the world. Again, in 
the contingent world there is poverty; then necessarily wealth 
exists, since poverty is apparent in the world. In the 
contingent world there is ignorance; necessarily knowledge 
exists, because ignorance is found; for if there were no 
knowledge, neither would there be ignorance. Ignorance is the 
nonexistence of knowledge, and if there were no existence, 
nonexistence could not be realized."  (Abdu'l-Baha, Some 
Answered Questions, p. 5)

Dear Gilberto,
One cannot forget what they never knew. ; )  Literacy is an 
essential prerequisite in this Day.

O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn 
not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not 
that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with 
thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt 
know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of 
thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee 
to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My 
loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.  (Baha'u'llah, 
The Arabic Hidden Words)

Lovingly, Sandra

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